SOLUTION: In a 3-4-5 right triangle, find the length of the altitude to the hypotenuse.

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Question 429483: In a 3-4-5 right triangle, find the length of the altitude to the hypotenuse.
Answer by richard1234(7193) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Suppose the length of the altitude is h.

We know that the area of the 3-4-5 triangle is (3*4)/2 = 6 (this works because the triangle is a right triangle). Since h is the height from the hypotenuse, we can express the area in terms of another base (the hypotenuse) and its corresponding height:

6+=+%285h%29%2F2

12+=+5h --> h+=+12%2F5.